Method and apparatus for depositing cut lengths of filament transversely of a movingweb



y 1960 A. B. STEVENSON 2,936,022

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEPOSITING CUT LENGTHS OF FILAMENT TRANSVBRSEJLY OF A MOVING WEB Filed Oct. 4,-1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 l N VENTOR ALL/4N 3 STEVENSON ATTORNEY y 1960 A. B. STEVENSON 2,936,022

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEPOSITING CUT LENGTHS I OF FILAMENT TRANSVEIRSELY OF A MOVING WEB Filed Oct. 4, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT OR ALLAN B. STEVENSON ATTORNEY May 10, 1960 A. B. STEVENSON 2,936,022

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEPOSITING CUT LENGTHS OF FILAMENT TRANSVERSEILY OF A MOVING WEB 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 4, 1954 INVENTOR ALLAN B. STEVENSON y 1960 I A. B. STEVENSON 2,936,022

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEPOSITING CUT LENGTHS 0F FILAMENT TRANSVERSELY OF A MOVING WEB INVENTOR ALLAN B. STEVENSON ATTORNEY May 10, 1960 Filed Oct. 4, 1954 A. BISTEVENSON METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEPOSITING CUT LENGTHS OF FILAMENT TRANSVERSEILY OF A MOVING WEB 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ALLAN B. STEVENSON ATTORNEY May 10, 1960 A. B. STEVENSON ETHOD AND APPARATUS M FDR DEPOSITING CUT LENGT OF FILAMENT TRANSVERSELY OF A MOVING WEB Filed Oct. 4, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR ALLAN B. STEVENSON ATTORNE 2,936,022 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEPOSITING CUT LENGTHS F FlLAh IENT TRANSVERSELY OF A MOVING WEB Allen B. Stevenson, Attleboro, Mass, assignor to American Sisalkraft Corporation, Attleboro, Mass, at corpo ration of Delaware Application October 4, 1954, Serial N 0. 460,023 13 Claims. (Cl. 1'541.7)

This invention relates to methods and apparatus for depositing filaments from a continuous supply, trans? versely of a web, such as of paper, filaments or other material, moving continuously in the direction of its length, for such purposes as providing transverse reenforcement in the manufacture of paper laminates. The object of the invention, fundamentally, is to provide ,a new principle of operation by which manufacturing processes of this sort are greatly facilitated and the apparatus used heretofore is greatly simplified.

The filaments to be deposited on the web are delivered to the machine from a source outside of the machine, desirably in the form of a stationary, readily accessible creel on which bobbins or other packages of the filaments are mounted and may readily be replaced as the supply runs out. The filaments, grasped by sets of moving grippers, are severed from the supply, and then delivered to and deposited transversely of the moving web in a novel way by apparatus which is unusually simple and effective in its operations, as will appear.

in the drawings:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic vertical sectional View of apparatus embodying my invention, taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail elevation view as seen from the line 3--3 of Fig. 1 with parts removed for clarity of illustration;

Fig. 4 is an elevation view, broken away, of a gripper in the first series to be referred to;

Fig. 5 is a detail vertical section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail vertical section on'the line 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is an elevation view of one of the grippers of the second series;

Fig. 8 is a detail vertical sectional on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Figs. 9, l0 and ll are diagrammatic views showing the operation of the machine in conveying filaments from the supply and, after severing them to web width, depositing them transversely of the web;

Fig. 12 is an elevation view of a modified form of gripper bar;

Fig. 13 is an end elevation view looking from the right in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a vertical section on the line 1414 of Fig. 12, and

Fig. 15 is a detailed horizontal section 1515 of Fig. 12.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the machine has frame elements 2 on the far side of the machine (Fig. 1') and frame elements 3 on the near side, serving to support a number of shafts, in properly spaced relationship. For convenience in describing the machine, certain of the elements which are present in two groups will be referred to by relating those in a first series and those in on the line .a second series.

In the embodiment illustrated, there are a number of shafts, which may be grouped as a first series of shafts, designated 4, 6, 8 and 10, for guiding and conveying a first series of gripper bars, to be referred to, and a second series of three shafts, designated 12, 14 and 16, for conveying and guiding a second series of gripper bars. Each of these shafts, except for shaft 16, extends across the machine (Fig. 2) and is journalled in the opposite side frame members. Shaft It is a short stub shaft journalled in frame 2 and having its counterpart stud shaft 10' journalled in'frame 3. Stud shafts 10 and 10' are in axial alignment so that in effect they are one shaft, but they are separated to remove shafting from the path of the filaments, as will appear. Each of'shafts 4, 6 and 3 has a sprocket fixed to one end of the shaft, designated respectively 18, 2t and 22, and the stud shaft 10 carries sprocket. 24, which sprockets are. in a common vertical plane and around which is trained the continuous chain 30. On the opposite ends of the shafts 4, 6, and 8 are similar sprockets designated 32, 34 and 36 respectively, around which sprockets, and sprocket 38 carried by stud shaft 16', is trained a second chain 40.

The shafts 1 2, 14 and 16 of the second series each has a sprocket at one end designated respectively 42, 44, and 46, in a common vertical plane, about which is trained a sprocket chain 56 and there are sprockets on the opposite ends of these shafts about which is trained a second sprocket chain 51 (Fig. 3).

Mounted between the chains 30 and 40 are the filament gripper bars of the first series, of which five are shown in the embodiment illustrated, designated 60, 62, 64, 66 and 68. These bare are disposed at fiveequally spaced intervals around the chains.

Correspondingly, there is a second series of filament gripper bars supported between the chains of the second series, there being two in the embodiment illustrated,

designated 70 and 72, equally spaced at the same intermachine has adhesive 92 for securing the filaments and at (Fig. 2) are shown the deposited filaments on the web leaving the machine.

Fig. 4 shows the details of construction of one of the gripper bars of the first series and the way in which they are mounted on the carrier chains 30 and 40. At is a supporting bar extending the full width of the machine between the chains. It is attached at one end to the carrier chain 46 by the angle piece 112 secured by bolt 114 to the bar 110 and by the rivet 116 to the chain 40. At its opposite end the bar is Secured by bolt 118 to angle piece 120 suitably secured as by rivet 122 to the chain 39.

At opposite ends of the bar 110 are spacer blocks.

The discs are annular rings of the shape indicated and have central apertures for a free sliding fit on the rod 130. They are urged to the left, as viewed in Fig. 4, and against spacer block 132, by compression spring 146 interposed between adjusting nut 148, screw-threaded on rod 130, and a collar 150 slidable lengthwise of the rod 130 in abutment with the end disc. In a manner which will appear, the filaments to be gripped by this assemblage will become interposed between adjacent discs 140 and gripped with a firmness depending upon the compression of spring 146, in turn controlled by the adjustment of the nut 148.

As a gripper bar, so constructed, moves from the position of the bar 64, in Fig. 1, around shaft 8 to the position of the bar 66, the filaments are received between the discs and, to facilitate such reception, discs 140 are temporarily relieved of the pressure of spring 146. For that purpose cam operated arm 156 is provided. This arm is pivoted at 158 to the bar 110 and has a finger 160 which protrudes behind a pin 162 projecting from collar 150. When arm 156 is moved clockwise about the pivot stud 158, collar 159 is moved toward nut 14%, thus relieving the discs 140 of the pressure of the spring 146. To effect such movement of arm 156 cam 170 (Figs. 1 and 3) is provided. This cam, suitably mounted on the frame so its position is fixed, encircles shaft 8 in the path of travel of the arm 156 about the shaft, during which travel the arm moves from a depending position, as illustrated by the arms of the gripper bars 62 and 64, to the position shown for the gripper bars 66, 68, where the arms 156 are in upstanding position. As indicated by a comparison of the showings of the cam 170 in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the portion of the cam first engaged by the arm 156 has a beveled camming surface 170a merging with a camming surface 17% effective to rotate the arm 156 clockwise to a vertical position or thereabouts and retain it in that position until after the arm has left the trailing edge 170s (Fig. 1) of the cam, when the spring 146 is again effective to compress the discs against each other.

In the meantime, however, the upper portion of the discs as seen in Fig. 4 enter the plane of the sheet of filaments so that the filaments become interposed between the discs and are gripped thereby upon restoration of the spring pressure.

The details of construction of the gripper bars of the second series are shown in Figs. 7 and 8. On the whole they are identical with the gripper bars of the first series including the bar 110 similarly supported on the side chains of the second series and with rod 130 supporting the spring-pressed discs 140, utilizing the energy in spring 146 under the control of cam operated rod 156. The parts have been correspondingly numbered. In this instance, however, the cam for operating the arm 156, designated 170 (Fig. 1) extends through an angle of somewhat less than 180, to conform to the angle between the approaching and leaving courses of the chain 50. The entering and leaving portions of the cam have been designated 170'a and 170c respectively. The upper portions of the discs as seen in Fig. 7 similarly enter the plane of the sheet of filaments as the bar rounds the shaft 16 so that the filaments enter between and become gripped by the discs upon restoration of spring pressure as the arm 156 leaves cam 170.

The gripper bar mechanism of the second series differs from the first in that it is additionally provided with a knife for severing the filaments into lengths approximating the width of the web 90. The knife, shown at 180 (Figs. 7 and 8) is of a length at least commensurate with that portion of the rod 130 occupied by discs 140 so that the knife edge 182 will sever all filaments which the gripper bar can accommodate.

The knife is slidably mounted on bar 110, to which end the knife is provided with a number of slots 183 extending at an inclination, which may be of the order of.

45 as indicated, each of which slots receives a grooved block 185 secured as by screws 186 to the bar 110 in conformingly inclined position. The knife, in the illustrated embodiment, is cam operated by means of two cams, one for moving the knife to the left and upwardly until it reaches its position 180a, shown in dot-dash lines, where it is effective to cut the filaments, and the other to retract it to its full line posiion as shown in Fig. 7. The cam for moving the knife to the left is shown in Figs. 2 and 7 at 190 and the cam for moving the knife to the right is shown at 191. The cam 190 is L-shaped in cross-section,

having an upstanding flange 192 secured to the frame by bolts 194 and having a camming surface 196. The restoring cam 191 similarly has an upstanding flange 200 secured by bolts 202 to the frame and a camming portion 204 for engaging and restoring the knife to its full line position.

After the filaments have been grasped, cut into lengths approximately the web width and conveyed to the web in a manner to be described, they are deposited on the web and at this time the discs of the bars both of the first series and the second series are again relieved of the pressure of the compression springs 146. To that end the arms 156 are again operated by a further set of cams located adjacent the web 90, the cam designated 222 (Fig. 1) operating the bars of the first series and the cam 220 operating the bars of the second series. These cams, as is apparent, have camming surfaces corresponding to portions a, 17% and 170a of cam 170.

The machine is driven from a motor 260 (Fig. 1) by chain 256 extending from sprocket 258 on the motor around sprocket 254 fixed to shaft 8 (Fig. 3). The shafts 8 and 16 are geared together by gears 250, 252 fixed to the shafts respectively so that the gripper bars of both series move synchronously at the same rate of speed and the bars of the two series are so relatively positioned that a bar of the first series grasps the filaments immediately behind the position in which they are grasped by a bar of the second series.

With a machine constructed as above described, its operation is illustrated by a comparison of Figs. 9, l0 and 1 1. In these views, of the five gripper bars constituting the first series and of the two bars constituting the second series, one bar, designated A, has been selected from the first series and another bar, designated B, has been selected from the second, to illustrate the mode of operation of the machine. At X is designated a section of filament entering the machine, the leading end of which has just been grasped by gripper bar A when the parts are in their position of Fig. 9. It will be understood that the filament is continuous except where severed in the machine, but for clarity the filament portion to the right of the bar A has been omitted from the drawing. W is the web of paper. I

When gripper bar A of the first series reaches the position shown in Fig. 10, gripper bar B arrives in position to grasp the trailing ends of section X of the filaments and for that purpose the two series of mechanisms above described, are so constructed and related to each other, as will be apparent, that when a gripper bar of the first series, typically shown at A, arrives at its position of Fig. 10, the gripper bar of the second series, typically shown at B, will be disposed in approximately horizontal alignment with A a distance behind it approximating the width of web W or other dimension desired as the length of the filament section X.

Fig. 10 also shows that filament section Y has entered the machine and has been grasped by that one of the gripper bars of the first series which next succeeds the bar A. Sections X and Y are connected to each other but they will be severed as soon as the knife on bar B is operated by earn (Fig. 1) which the knife is about to engage.

With filament section X now severed into the desired length, the machine continues in operation until it arrives at its next significant position as illustrated in Fig. 11, where the filament is deposited on the paper Web W.

At this position the cams 220 and 222 (Fig. l) are effective to release the filaments so that as the gripper bars pass the plane of the Web the filaments are deposited on the moving web.

Figs. 12-15 illustrate a modified type of gripper bar which has certain advantages over the gripper bar previously described, for some purposes. The gripper bar of these views has a U-shaped supporting member formed of the side plates 3G2, 304 suitably joined to the bottom plate 306. A cylindrical gripper supporting rod 308 extends the full length of the bar 300', being supported at its ends on spacer blocks 31%), 312 suitably secured in the end-s of the U-shaped bars 302 and, in this modification, drilled at 314, 316 respectively to receive opposite ends of the rod 3% secured in the blocks by set screws Sid-32tl.

The gripper bar 3% is designed to be made in greater length than the gripper bars of the earlier embodiment, enabling the bar to accommodate a greater number of filament ends. The rod 365% is supported, preferably midway of its length, by block 324 suitably secured to the Ushaped bar 3% and having an upwardly projecting partition 32 6 drilled to receive the rod 3&8.

The left hand portion of rod 3%, as viewed in Fig. 12, carries a coiled spring 336 and a similar spring 332 encircles that portion of the rod immediately to the right of the central support. The coiled springs 330, 332. are made of flat, ribbon-like spring metal coiled into helices of an internal diameter slightly larger than the external diameter of the rod 338 for free sliding movement thereon. The inner ends of the springs 330, 332 abut the central supporting partition 326 and the outer ends are suitably secured in bars 340, 342 respectively, drilled at 344 and 346 respectively to slide over the rod 368 with a free sliding tit and having guide flanges 331 riding in channels 333 on the side plates M92 and 304.

A plurality of gripper discs 370 are interposed between the central supporting partition 326 and the bar 34% on the left and the bar 342 on the right. The discs in this embodiment are in the form of annular plastic rings of an internal diameter slightly greater than the external diameter of the coiled springs 330, 332.

Bar 34% is urged to the right to compress the discs between it and the central partition 326 by tension'spring 35% extending lengthwise internally of the U-shaped bar 3% and secured at one end to the bar 340 at 352 and at the other end 354 to the side plate 364 of the U-bar.

Similarly bar 342 is urged to the left to compress the discs 370 by tension spring 366 secured at 3 62 to the bar 3412 and at 36d to plate 394.

With the parts in the positions shown in Fig. 12, the bars 3 5i and 342, urged inwardly toward the central supporting partition 326 by the tension springs 356?, 360, compress the discs of each set against each other laterally for a tight grip on any filaments which have been interposed between the discs. If, however, the bars 349, 342 are forcibly moved outwardly toward the spacer blocks 31%, 312 against the tension of springs 35%, 360, the side pressure against the discs is relaxed. Furthermore the coil springs 33$, 332 on which the discs are supported will become extended. As the successive courses of each or these springs become separated as the result of such extension, an effective separation of contiguous discs 37% will occur because of the friction between the discs and the springs on which they rest, completely freeing any filaments that may have been interposed therebetween. A desirable characteristic of a bar constructed as in this embodiment is that by virtue of the separation of adjacent courses of the springs 33%, 332 upon movement of the bars 340, 34-2 outwardly, a corresponding separating movement is imparted to the discs. In practice I have found that a comparatively small outwardmovement of the bars 34%, 342 will result in a separating movement even of the innermost discs 370 adjacent the supporting member 326.

The bars 340, .342 are cam-operated for this releasing movement. For that purpose each bar, 340, 342 has a camfollowing roller 380 supported on a shaft 382 depending from the bar. As the gripper bar 300 moves away, as seen in Fig. 12, the rollers 380 engage cams 384 secured to the frame of the machine. As shown in Fig. 15 the cam 3% for the right hand end has a cam-operating surface 386 which moves bar 342 to the right or toward releasing position. Cam 334 for the bar 340 is reversed to move the bar to the left or toward releasing position.

My invention may otherwise be modified as required to suit individual needs and is not to be limited to any 7 varied as desired and the adjustments in chain length can be made as required accompanied by adjustments in the position of the shafts and sprockets and the use of whatever idler sprockets may be necessary.

I claim:

1. In a machine for depositing, transversely of a web moving continuously in the direction of its length, sections, of a length approximating the web width, of a filament delivered to the machine in a plane which differs from the plane of the web, comprising knife means in the plane of the filament for severing the filament into sections having a leading end anda trailing end, a plurality of grippers arranged at uniform successive intervals, drive means for advancing the grippers continuously in a forward direction at a constant rate of speed, guide means for directing the travel of the grippers from the plane of the delivered filament to the plane of the web adjacent one edge of the web and return in a closed cycle, to deliver the leading end of a filament section to one edge of the web, means for actuating the grippers to grasp the leading end of a filament section and subsequently to release it at said edge of the web, and means for delivering the trailing end of the filament section to the other edge of the web.

2. In a machine for depositing, transversely'of a web moving continuously in the direction of its length, sections, of a length approximating the web width, of a filament delivered to the machine in a plane which differs from the plane of the web, com-prisingknife means in the plane of the filament for severing the filament into sections having a leading end and a trailing end, a plurality of grippers arranged at uniform successive intervals, drive means for advancing the grippers continuously in a forward direction at a constant rate of speed, guide means for directing the travel of the grippers from the plane of the delivered leading end of a filament to the plane of the web adjacent one edge of the web and return in a closed cycle, to deliver the leading end of a filament section to one edge of the web, means for actuating the grippers to grasp the leading end of a filament section and subsequently to release it at said edge of the web, second gripper means, means for moving the second gripper means continuously in a closed cycle from the trailing end of a filament section in the plane of the delivered filament, to the plane of the web and return, to deliver the trailing end of the filament section to the other edge of the web.

3. In a machine for depositing, transversely of a web moving continuously in the direction of its length, sections of filament of a length approximating the web width, comprising means for guiding into the machine filaments of continuous length delivered to the machine at one side of the web and directed transversely of the web from its near edge to its far edge in a plane which differs from the plane of the web, two systems of grippers,

each system having gripper means, means for operating the gripper means to grasp the filaments so delivered and subsequently to release them at the web, a carrier on which the gripper means is mounted, drive means for the carrier to advance the carrier and the gripper means continuously, and guide means for the carrier to direct the path of travel of the gripper means carried by the advancing carrier, the first system having its gripper means arranged at uniformly spaced intervals on the carrier and having its guide means directing the movement of the carrier to dispose the gripper means the plane of the filaments, on the near side of the web, as the gripper means grasps the filaments and to move the gripper means to draw the grasped portions of the filaments transversely of the web in the plane of the filaments and then to move the gripper means out of the plane of the filaments and into the plane of the web in proximity with the far edge of the web to deliver the portions of the filaments grasped thereby to and to release them at the said far edge of the web, the second system having gripper means arranged on its carrier to advance therewith in a cycle of intervals equal to the intervals spacing the gripper means in the first system to grasp the filaments and move with the grasped portions from the plane of the filament to the plane of the web to release them at the near edge of the web, the gripper means in both systems being positioned relatively to each other to deliver a gripper means of the second system into position for grasping the filaments that have previously been grasped by gripper means of the first system after the filament portions grasped by the said gripper means of the first system have traveled in a direction transversely of the web beyond the portions grasped by the gripper means of the second system a distance approximating the said length of the filament section, and means for cutting the filaments behind the portion so grasped by the gripper means of the second system.

4. In a machine for depositing, transversely of a web moving continuously in the direction of its length, sections of filament of a length approximating the web width, comprising means for guiding into the machine filaments of continuous length delivered to the machine at one side of the web and directed transversely of the web from its near edge to its far edge in a plane which differs from the plane of the web, two systems of grippers, each system having gripper means, means for operating the gripper means to grasp the filaments so de livered and subsequently to release them at the Web, a carrier on which the gripper means is mounted, drive means for the carrier to advance the carrier and the gripper means continuously, and guide means for the carrier to direct the path of travel of the gripper means carried by the advancing carrier, the first system having its gripper means arranged at uniformly spaced intervals on the carrier and having its guide means directing the movement of the carrier to dispose the gripper means in the plane of the filaments, on the near side of the web, as the gripper means grasps the filaments and to move the gripper means to draw the grasped portions of the filaments transversely of the web in the plane of the filaments and then to move the gripper means out of the plane of the filaments and into the plane of the web in proximity with the far edge of the web, to deliver the portions of the filaments grasped thereby to and to release them at the said far edge of the web, the second system having gripper means arranged on its carrier to advance therewith in a cycle at intervals equal to the intervals spacing the gripper means in the first system to grasp the filaments and move with the grasped portions from the plane of the filament to the plane of the web to release them at the near edge of the web, the drive means for the two systems being relatively timed to advance the carriers and gripper means at the same rate of speed in both systems, the gripper means in both systems being positioned relatively to eachother to deliver a filaments behind the portion so grasped by the gripper means of the second system.

5. in a machine for depositing, transversely of a web moving continuously in the direction of its length, sections of filament of a length approximating the Web width, comprising means for guiding into the machine filaments of continuous length delivered to the machine at one side of the web and directed transversely of the web from its near edge to its far edge, in a plane which differs from the plane of the web, two systems of grippers, each system having gripper means, means for operating the gripper means to grasp the filaments so delivered and subsequently to release them at the web, a carrier on which the gripper means is mounted, drive means for the carrier to advance the carrier and the gripper means continuously in a closed cycle, and guide means for the carrier to direct the path of travel of the gripper means carried by the advancing carrier, the first system having its gripper means arranged at uniformly spaced intervals on the carrier and having its guide means directing the movement of the carrier to dispose the gripper means in the plane of the filaments on the near side of the web as the gripper means grasps the filaments and to move the gripper means to draw the grasped portions of the filaments transversely of the web, in the plane of the filaments, and then to move the gripper means out of the plane of the filaments and into the plane of the web in proximity with the far edge of the web to deliver the portions of the filaments grasped thereby to and to release them at the said far edge of the web, the second system having gripper means arranged on its carrier to advance therewith in a cycle at intervals equal to the intervals spacing the gripper means in the first system to grasp the filaments and move with the grasped portions from the plane of the filaments to the plane of the web to release them at the near edge of the web, the drive means for the two systems being relatively timed to advance the carriers and gripper means at the same rate of speed in both systems, the gripper means in both systems being positioned relatively to each other to deliver a gripper means of the second system into position for grasping the filaments that have previously been grasped by gripper means of the first system after the filament portions grasped by the said gripper means of the first system have traveled in a direction transversely of the web beyond the portions grasped by the gripper means of the second system a distance approximating the said length of the filament section, and so that the next successive gripper means of the first system grasps the filaments in close proximity behind the portions so grasped by the gripper means of the second system to form the leading edge of the next succeeding filament section, and means for cutting the filaments between the portions so grasped by the gripper means of the second system and said next succeeding gripper means of the first system.

6. In a machine for depositing, transversely of a web moving continuously in the direction of its length, sections of filament of a length approximating the web width, comprising means for guiding into the machine filaments of continuous length delivered to the machine at one side of the web and directed transversely of and above the web from its near edge to its far edge, upper and lower systems of grippers, each system having grippers, means for operating the grippers to grasp the filaments so delivered and subsequently to release them at the web, a carrier on which the grippers are mounted to protrude outwardly from the carrier, drive means for the carrier to advance the carrier and the grippers continuously in a closed cycle, and guide means for the carrier to direct the path of travel of the grippers carried by the advancing carrier, the upper system having its grippers arranged at uniformly spaced intervals on the carrier and having its guide means directing the movement and positions of the carrier to dispose the grippers downwardly from the carrier into the filaments on-the near side of the web as the grippers grasp the filaments and to move the grippers to draw the grasped portions of the filaments transversely above the web and then to move the grippers downwardly on the far side of the web to deliver the portions of the filaments grasped thereby to and to release them at the said far edge of the web, the lower system having at least one gripper arranged on its carrier to advance therewith in a cycle at intervals equal to the intervals spacing the grippers in the upper system and protruding upwardly from the carrier into the sheet of filaments to grasp thezfilaments and deliver the grasped portions downwardly to andto release them at the near edge of the web, the drive means for the two systems being relatively timed to advance the carriers and grippers at the same rate of speed in both systems, the grippers 'in both systems being positioned relatively to each other to deliver a gripper of the lower system into position for grasping the filaments that have previously been grasped by a gripper of the upper system after the filament portions grasped by the said gripper of the upper system have traveled in a direction transversely of the web beyond the portions grasped by the gripper of the lower system a distance approximating the said length of the filament section, and means for cutting the filaments behind the portions so grasped by the gripper of the lower system.

7. In a machine for depositing, transversely of a web moving continuously in the direction of its length, sections of filament of a length approximating the web width, comprising means for guiding into the machine filaments of continuous length delivered to the machine at one side of the web and directed transversely of and above the web from its near edge to its far edge, upper and lower systems of grippers, each system having grippers, means for operating the grippers to grasp the filaments so delivered and subsequently to release them at the web, a carrier on which the grippers are mounted to protrude outwardly from the carrier, drive means for the carrier to advance the carrier and the grippers continuously in a closed cycle, and guide means for the carrier to direct the path of travel of the grippers carried by the advancing carrier, the upper system having its grippers arranged at uniformly spaced intervals on the carrier and having its guide means directing the movement and positions of the carrier to dispose the grippers downwardly from the carrier into the filaments on the near side of the web as the grippers grasp the filaments and to move the grippers to draw the grasped portions of the filaments transversely above the web and then to move the grippers downwardly on the far side of the web to deliver the portions of the filaments grasped thereby to and to release them at the said far edge of the web, the lower system having at least one gripper arranged on its carrier to advance therewith in a cycle at intervals equal to the intervals spacing the grippers in the upper system and protruding upwardly from the carrier into the sheet of filaments to grasp the filaments and deliver the grasped portions downwardly to and to release them at the near edgeof the web, the drive means for the two systems being relatively timed to advance the carriers and grippers at the same rate of speed in both systems, the grippers in both systems being positioned relatively to each other to deliver a gripper of the lower system into position for grasping the filaments that have previously been grasped by a gripper of the upper system after the filament portions grasped by the said gripper of the upper system have traveled in a direction transversely of the web beyond the portions grasped by the gripper of the lower system a distance apgrasps the filaments in close proximity behind the portions so grasped by the gripper of the lower system to 'form the leading edge of the neXt succeeding filament section, and means for cutting the filaments between the portions so grasped by the gripper of the lower system and said next succeeding gripper of the upper system.

8. In a machine for depositing, transversely of a web moving continuously in the direction of its length, sections of filament of a length approximating the web width, comprising means for guiding into the machine filaments of continuous length delivered to the machine at one side of the web and directed transversely of the web from its near edge to its far edge in a plane above the web, upper and lower systems of grippers, each sys tem having grippers, means for operating the grippers to grasp the filaments so delivered and subsequently to release them at the web, carrier chain means on which the grippers are mounted to protrude outwardly from the chain means, drive means including sprockets for the chain means to advance the grippers continuously in a closed cycle, and to direct the path of travel of the grippers carried by the advancing chain means, the upper system having its grippersarranged at uniformly spaced intervals on the chain means, the said upper system having sprockets positioned for directing the chain means in a course above the plane of the filaments to dispose the grippers downwardly into the filaments on the near side of the web as the grippers grasp the filaments and to move the grippers to draw the grasped portions of the filaments transversely above the web and then to move the grippers downwardly on the far side of the web to deliver the portions of the filaments grasped thereby to and to release them at the said far edge of the web, the lower system having at least one gripper arranged on its chain means to advance therewith in a cycle at intervals equal to the intervals spacing the grippers in the upper system and having sprockets positioned for directing the chain means in a course below the plane of the filaments to dispose said grippers upwardly into the sheet of filaments to grasp the filaments and deliver the grasped portions downwardly and to release them at the near edge of'the web, the drive means for the two systems being relatively timed to advance the carriers and grippers at the same rate of speed in both systems, the grippers in both systems being positioned relatively to each other to deliver a gripper of the lower system into position for grasping the filaments that have previously been grasped by a gripper of the upper system after the filament portions grasped by the said gripper of thetupper system have traveled in a direction transversely of the web be yond the portions grasped by the gripper of the lower system a distance approximating the said length of the filament section, and means for cutting the filaments behind the portions so grasped by the gripper of the lower system.

9. In a machine for laying cut lengths of filament transversely of a moving web, a gripper for grasping a sheet of said filaments, comprising a gripper frame, a rod of a length approximating the width of said sheet, a plurality of annular elements slidably mounted on the rod, the rod being mounted in spaced position relative to the frame for freedom of movement of the elements lengthwise of the rod and between the rod and the frame, spring means urging the elements into sidewise abutment with each other to grasp the filaments therebetween and means for restraining said spring means to release said filaments.

10. The method of delivering cut sections of filament from a continuous supply transversely of a moving web, which comprises feeding the web continuously at a constant rate of speed in the direction of its length, guiding the continuous filaments from a supply, at one side of the web, toward and above the web in a direction transversely of the web, grasping the leading end of a filament sec tion at one side of the web and pulling it across the web from the near side of the web to its far side and then moving said grasped leading end downwardly and delivering it to and releasing it at said far side of the web, grasping the filaments a distance behind the said leading end approximating the length of said section after the leading end has been so grasped, cutting off the filaments behind the portion grasped in said second grasping operation to form the trailing ends of said section, and thereafter delivering the said grasped trailing ends to and re leasing them at the near side of the web.

11. The method of delivering cut sections of filament from a continuous supply transversely of a moving web, which comprises feeding the web continuously at a con stant rate of speed in the direction of its length, guiding the continuous filaments from a supply, at one side of the web, toward and above the web in a direction transversely of the web, grasping the leading end of a filament section at one side of the web and pulling it across the web from the near side of the web to its far side and then moving said grasped leading end downwardly and delivering it to and releasing it at said far side of the web, grasping the filaments a distance behind the said leading end approximating the length of said section after the leading end has been so grasped, cutting off the filamerits behind the portion grasped in said second grasping operation to form the trailing ends of said section, and thereafter delivering the said grasped trailing ends to and releasing them at the near side of the web, simultaneously with the delivery of the leading ends to and release at the far side of the web.

12. The method of delivering cut sections of filament from a continuous supply transversely of a moving web in a continuous closed cycle of operation, which comprises feeding the web continuously at a constant rate of speed in the direction of its length, guiding the continuous filaments from a supply, at one side of the web, toward and above the web in a direction transversely of the web, grasping the leading end of a filament section at one side of the web and pulling it across the web from the near side of the web to its far side, and then moving said grasped leading end downwardly and delivering it to and releasing it at said far side of the web, grasping a second portion of the filaments a distance behind the said leading end approximating the length of said section after the leading end has been so grasped, grasping a third portion of the filaments immediately behind said second grasped portion to start the next succeeding cycle of operation, cutting the filaments between said second and said third grasped portions to form simultaneously the trailing end of the first section and the leading end of the next succeeding section, and thereafter delivering the grasped cut trailing end of the first section to and releasing it at the near side of the web simultaneously with the delivery of the leading end to and release at the far side of the web.

13. In a machine for laying out lengths of filament transversely of a moving web, the combination of a filament supply mounted in fixed position and having means for delivering filaments from one side of the web in a predetermined direction transversely of the web and in a predetermined transverse plane above the web, gripper means for grasping the leading end of a filament length in said plane, cutting means positioned to sever said length from the supply in proximity to said plane, means for moving the gripper means continuously at a substantially constant rate of speed, means for guiding the movement of the gripper means through a closed cycle through a path extending transversely above the web for pulling a the grasped leading end of the filament across the web,

downwardly on the other side of the web and to and below the plane of the web to release the grasped end of the filament at said other side of the web, returning upwardly and into position to grasp the leading end of another filament length and then again moving transversely above the web to commence the next cycle, the guiding means confining the said movements to substantially a single plane normal to the plane of the web, means for actuating the gripper means to effect said grasp and release and means for delivering and releasing the cut trailing end of the filament at the first side of the web simultaneously with the release of the leading end at the other side of the web.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 33,426 Butler Oct. 8, 1861 1,383,243 Schwartz June 28, 1921 1,590,167 Howard June 22, 1926 2,264,305 Gibbs Dec. 2, 1941. 2,308,849 Young Ian. 19, 1943 2,421,010 Cavedon May 27, 1947 2,562,891 Cotchett Aug. 7, 1951 2,620,015 Stevenson et al Dec. 2, 1952 2,692,635 Polley Oct. 26, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2,936,022 May 10, 1960 Allan B, Stevenson It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the 'said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 2 line 33, for "bare" read bars column 4 line 5, for "posiion" read position column 7, line 22, for "of" read at Signed and sealed this l9th day of June 1962,

(SEAL) Attesu' W ERNEST w. SWIDER V DAVID LADD Attesting Qfficer Commissioner of Patents 

